The idea of a scenery pack centred around reptiles and reptile houses has floated around for a while, and I've become more and more fond of it over time to the point it's now among my favourite pack ideas. In fact, I'd probably say it's the single scenery pack concept I think has the most potential, both due to boosting representation of a group of animals currently lacking in diversity (habitat reptiles) and having great potential for extremely useful scenery pieces. Below is my personal optimal roster:
1. West African Slender-snouted Crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) - Africa is the only remaining continent inhabited by crocodilians that currently lacks a species from the order, and so this is the perfect opportunity to finally fill that region hole in the roster. Given we've now gotten 3 members of the Alligatoridae, it's also about time we got another true crocodile. While the Nile crocodile is both more famous and common in zoos, the West African slender-snouted crocodile has my preference due to being significantly more distinct from the saltwater crocodile we already have, looking almost like an intermediate between the saltie and the gharial thanks to their namesake snout. They also have strong conservation value as a critically endangered species.
2. Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) - This would be the headliner of this hypothetical DLC, both because of its marketable appearance and because it is the animal in the pack most distinct from the reptiles we already have in the game. The pignose is one of the best options for a freshwater turtle that's suitable to being kept in a habitat, given both its relatively large size and the fact it is a very active swimmer (which can't be said for the more popular alligator snapping turtle, which is virtually a living statue). While they'd be among the most aquatic animals added to the game so far, they are still capable of moving on land (albeit very slowly) so they wouldn't require any new mechanics.
3. Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) - It's a really tough pick between this species and the equally awesome African spurred tortoise, but I've chosen to go with the radiated tortoise here given it would be a huge plus for taxonomic representation in Madagascar (given all it has for now are lemurs). It also contrasts more with the two giant tortoises we currently have in the game through its small size and beautiful colouration, and also adds a second critically endangered species to the pack. In any case, most agree it's about time we got a new tortoise.
4. Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) - A reptile pack wouldn't be complete without a new habitat lizard (almost went with two lizards instead of another tortoise), and for me personally the species I'd like to see the most is the lace monitor. While we already have two varanid species in PZ, the lacey brings something new to the table as an arboreal species - the first climbing habitat reptile in the game - and also through being an Australian member of the family (which is fairly necessary given varanids are one of the continent's dominant predator groups, more so than anywhere else). Additionally, they're a rare case of a potential habitat lizard suitable for the temperate biome tag (alongside tropical and grassland) given the species extends far down into the temperate south-east of Australia.
5. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) - The options for exhibit species in a reptile pack are virtually endless, and all sorts of species are very deserving of this spot; a chameleon, gecko, the tuatara, frilled lizard, green anaconda, sheltopusik, the list goes on and on. However, I've decided to go with the king cobra, for this pack feels like it needs a snake to properly round out the reptile roster (sorry Rhynchocephalia) and this is one of the most iconic species currently missing from the roster. It'd also be the first exhibit reptile in the game that's properly representative of Asia given the puff adder only marginally extends onto the continent.
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As big of an animal person I am, a Reptile/Reptile House Pack could potentially be one of the few cases where I'm just as, if not more, excited for the new scenery as I am for the animals, and this is for one very big reason - if there's any pack that should introduce a great variety of new faux pieces, it's this one. Given reptile houses are, by definition, indoor spaces, they often rely heavily on things like fake rocks, rockwalls, plants, branches, vines etc to make enclosures look as nice and natural as possible, and therefore I'd hope we'd get a great variety of such items here. Other options for scenery pieces include new landscape backdrops (similar to the river and polar landscape ones we got in the aquatic pack, but hopefully a little less cartoony), heat lamps, perhaps some new glass panels as well as just generally more items suited for use in an indoor setting.
As much as I like this idea, I feel like it's fairly unlikely to actually happen as reptiles are generally just not animals that are on Frontier's radar (aside from crocodilians I guess) and they may not want to risk making a pack without cute and fluffy mammals.
1. West African Slender-snouted Crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) - Africa is the only remaining continent inhabited by crocodilians that currently lacks a species from the order, and so this is the perfect opportunity to finally fill that region hole in the roster. Given we've now gotten 3 members of the Alligatoridae, it's also about time we got another true crocodile. While the Nile crocodile is both more famous and common in zoos, the West African slender-snouted crocodile has my preference due to being significantly more distinct from the saltwater crocodile we already have, looking almost like an intermediate between the saltie and the gharial thanks to their namesake snout. They also have strong conservation value as a critically endangered species.
2. Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) - This would be the headliner of this hypothetical DLC, both because of its marketable appearance and because it is the animal in the pack most distinct from the reptiles we already have in the game. The pignose is one of the best options for a freshwater turtle that's suitable to being kept in a habitat, given both its relatively large size and the fact it is a very active swimmer (which can't be said for the more popular alligator snapping turtle, which is virtually a living statue). While they'd be among the most aquatic animals added to the game so far, they are still capable of moving on land (albeit very slowly) so they wouldn't require any new mechanics.
3. Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) - It's a really tough pick between this species and the equally awesome African spurred tortoise, but I've chosen to go with the radiated tortoise here given it would be a huge plus for taxonomic representation in Madagascar (given all it has for now are lemurs). It also contrasts more with the two giant tortoises we currently have in the game through its small size and beautiful colouration, and also adds a second critically endangered species to the pack. In any case, most agree it's about time we got a new tortoise.
4. Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) - A reptile pack wouldn't be complete without a new habitat lizard (almost went with two lizards instead of another tortoise), and for me personally the species I'd like to see the most is the lace monitor. While we already have two varanid species in PZ, the lacey brings something new to the table as an arboreal species - the first climbing habitat reptile in the game - and also through being an Australian member of the family (which is fairly necessary given varanids are one of the continent's dominant predator groups, more so than anywhere else). Additionally, they're a rare case of a potential habitat lizard suitable for the temperate biome tag (alongside tropical and grassland) given the species extends far down into the temperate south-east of Australia.
5. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) - The options for exhibit species in a reptile pack are virtually endless, and all sorts of species are very deserving of this spot; a chameleon, gecko, the tuatara, frilled lizard, green anaconda, sheltopusik, the list goes on and on. However, I've decided to go with the king cobra, for this pack feels like it needs a snake to properly round out the reptile roster (sorry Rhynchocephalia) and this is one of the most iconic species currently missing from the roster. It'd also be the first exhibit reptile in the game that's properly representative of Asia given the puff adder only marginally extends onto the continent.
As big of an animal person I am, a Reptile/Reptile House Pack could potentially be one of the few cases where I'm just as, if not more, excited for the new scenery as I am for the animals, and this is for one very big reason - if there's any pack that should introduce a great variety of new faux pieces, it's this one. Given reptile houses are, by definition, indoor spaces, they often rely heavily on things like fake rocks, rockwalls, plants, branches, vines etc to make enclosures look as nice and natural as possible, and therefore I'd hope we'd get a great variety of such items here. Other options for scenery pieces include new landscape backdrops (similar to the river and polar landscape ones we got in the aquatic pack, but hopefully a little less cartoony), heat lamps, perhaps some new glass panels as well as just generally more items suited for use in an indoor setting.
As much as I like this idea, I feel like it's fairly unlikely to actually happen as reptiles are generally just not animals that are on Frontier's radar (aside from crocodilians I guess) and they may not want to risk making a pack without cute and fluffy mammals.
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